Social:Boo (dog)

From HandWiki
Short description: Pomeranian that became an Internet sensation


Boo
SpeciesCanis lupus familiaris
BreedPomeranian
SexMale
BornSan Francisco Bay Area, California , U.S.
DiedJanuary 18, 2019(2019-01-18) (aged 12)
Buena Park, California, U.S.
Years active2008-2019
Known for“World’s cutest dog”
OwnerIrene Ahn

Boo (March 16, 2006 – January 18, 2019) was a Pomeranian dog that had a popular Facebook page and was the subject of four photo-books.[1] As of 2020, Boo had 16 million likes on Facebook.[2] Boo was owned by Irene Ahn, a Facebook employee, who was also the owner of Boo's older brother, Buddy.

Popularity

Boo belonged to a San Francisco -based Facebook employee who created a Facebook page for the dog with the statement "My name is Boo. I am a dog. Life is good." He became popular in October 2010 after singer Kesha sent a tweet that she had a new boyfriend, linking to the page.[3]

Chronicle Books, noticing that Boo had 5 million Facebook fans at the time, approached the owner to write a picture book. In August 2011, Boo: The Life of the World's Cutest Dog, written by his owner under the pen name J. H. Lee, was published. The book was eventually published in ten languages. A second book followed, Boo: Little Dog in the Big City, as well as a calendar and plans for a cut-out book and additional children's books. His other merchandise includes a Gund stuffed animal.[1]

Health complications and death

Boo's owners said he began to show signs of heart trouble after Buddy's death; he died in his sleep on the morning of January 18, 2019.[4][5]

Media appearances

In April 2012, Boo was the subject of a death hoax after #RIPBOO appeared all over Facebook. Tweets followed as Gizmodo writer Sam Biddle tweeted that Boo had died. It was later confirmed by the Chronicle Book staff that Boo was alive and well.[6]

In July 2012, Boo was named the Official Pet Liaison of Virgin America, which featured photos of him in an airplane along with advice for people traveling with pets.[1][7] He also modeled sunglasses for The Monocle Order, from the Blood and Tears line.[5]

Mike Isaac of All Things Digital outed Boo's owner as Irene Ahn, a Facebook employee, in August 2012.[3][8][9]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Benny Evangelista (August 17, 2012). "Boo, 'the cutest dog in the world'". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Boo-the-cutest-dog-on-the-planet-3796886.php. 
  2. "Boo the Pomeranian dog dies 'from a broken heart'" (in en-GB). BBC News. 2019-01-19. https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-46931245. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 Isaac, Mike (August 8, 2012). "Boo, the World's Cutest Dog, Calls a Facebook Employee "Mom"". AllThingsD. http://allthingsd.com/20120808/boo-the-worlds-cutest-dog-calls-a-facebook-employee-mom/. 
  4. Mizoguchi, Karen (January 18, 2019). "Boo the Pomeranian, Once Named the World's Cutest Dog, Dies". People. https://people.com/pets/boo-the-pomeranian-dies/. Retrieved January 19, 2019. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 "'He's a true legend': Boo, 'World's Cutest Dog' dies at 12". San Francisco Chronicle. HTV. January 19, 2019. https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/He-s-a-true-legend-Boo-World-s-13546740.php. 
  6. "Boo Is Alive: Dog's Death Refuted On Facebook As #RIPBOO Tweets Flow". HuffPost. April 11, 2012. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/boo-rip-ripboo-alive-dog_n_1419247. 
  7. "Boo, World's Cutest Dog, Is Now Official Pet Liaison For Virgin America (PHOTOS)". HuffPost. July 11, 2012. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/boo-worlds-cutest-dog-is-pet-liaison-for-virgin-america_n_1665949. 
  8. Choney, Suzanne. "Is Boo the 'cutest dog' in the world a Facebook plant?". Today. https://www.today.com/money/boo-cutest-dog-world-facebook-plant-933196. 
  9. Shontell, Alyson (August 8, 2012). "Meet Boo, 'The World's Cutest Dog'—And The Secret Facebook Employee Behind Him". Business Insider. http://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-cutest-dog-boo-irene-ahn-2012-8. 

External links